Four members of Renfrewshire Council suspended by SNP as First Minister says
their behaviour was 'unacceptable'

Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” of four SNP councillors who have been suspended by the party after setting fire to a copy of the Smith Commission report.

She said the members of Renfrewshire Council, who posted a video of the stunt online, would be left in no doubt about her views on their conduct.

The councillors, Brian Lawson, Will Mylet and Mags MacLaren, who appear in the film, and Kenny MacLaren, who filmed the incident, have been suspended pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation.

They are also being referred to the Standards Commission by the authority’s Labour leader, Mark MacMillan.

The First Minister said she “absolutely condemned” the incident, adding: “We all have strong, passionate views on the future of Scotland. I believe Scotland should be an independent country.

“Many people are disappointed with the result of the referendum and the level of devolution recommended by the Smith Commission, however Scotland will only make progress if we debate our views openly and with respect.

“People are entitled to express those reviews robustly and passionately, but setting fire to something because you don’t agree with it is unacceptable behaviour.

“The councillors in questions will be left in doubt about my views on their conduct.”

Patrick Grady, the party’s National Secretary, said he had written to the convenor of the party's disciplinary committee making a complaint against the four individuals concerned, who would be “suspended from the party until that complaint is heard”.

Ms Sturgeon’s criticism of the stunt contrasted with the reaction of Derek Mackay, the Transport Minister, who refused to say if he would discipline Ms MacLaren, who acts as his office manager.

Alex Neil, the Social Justice Minister, said it was a silly prank but “hardly a hanging offence”.

Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Conservative constitutional spokesman, said the burning of the 28-page report - which sets out new powers to be handed to the Scottish Parliament and was supported by the SNP - was “juvenile posturing” and a huge embarrassment for the Nationlists.

She added: “The SNP’s subsequent response to the Smith agreement raises big questions about its ability to accept the referendum result, which was a rejection of independence and an endorsement of devolution.

“Silly antics from these councillors not only diminish their party but show disrespect to a democratic judgment.”

The three councillors set fire to the report outside Renfrewshire Council's headquarters and posted a video of the event on YouTube, before removing it following the outcry it prompted.

As they burned the document above a bin, Mr Mylet said: "The Smith Commission report, this is exactly what we think about it.

"No real powers for Scotland yet again from Westminster. We've been lied to again." As he dropped it into the bin he added: "There you go Gordon Brown, cheers."

Mr Lawson then said: "Happy St Andrew's Day."

Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said it was to the First Minister’s credit that she had publicly condemned the councillors, but she still had a challenge to “convince people that she stands up for all of Scotland”.

He added: "The longer term challenge for the First Minister is that these senior SNP members are not lone voices. So many nationalists rose to the defence of the councillors in defiance of the SNP leadership.

"The radical package of powers agreed by the all party Smith Commission should be celebrated rather than burnt in a bin. Yet for these nationalists everything short of independence is condemned as dangerous.

"Nicola Sturgeon still has a challenge to convince us her party stands for all of Scotland, rather than just the 45 per cent who backed her in the referendum."